Sports BIT: NBA Win Totals, Red Sox-Rays & 2017 Texans

On the Thursday, July 6 Sports BIT show, Teddy Covers & Pauly Howard examine early win totals for the 2017-18 NBA season with free agency largely over. To no surprise, the Warriors are miles ahead of everyone else at 67.5. Also, Chris Sale is on the mound for Boston at Tampa Bay.

Early NBA Win Totals

Now that NBA free agency – and trades – have largely sorted themselves out, SBR’s top sportsbooks have unveiled early win totals for the 2017-18 season. The Golden State Warriors have re-signed everyone of importance and stand alone by a mile at 67.5 wins. Cleveland is next at 56.5, although that could change if the Cavs trade for Carmelo Anthony. San Antonio has been quiet in free agency and is at 55.5 wins. So is Houston after trading for Chris Paul. After landing Jimmy Butler, Minnesota is at 46.5. So is Oklahoma City after dealing for Paul George. At the bottom? The Brooklyn Nets with 21.5 wins.

The clear favorite for the AL Cy Young Award and the likely starter for the Junior Circuit in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Miami is Boston lefty Chris Sale as he takes his final turn before the break. Sale (11-3, 2.61) leads the AL in strikeouts (166), innings (120.2), WHIP (0.90) and is second in wins and ERA. His 12.43 K/9 is the best in baseball among starters. Sale, who grew up not far from the Tampa Bay area and went to Florida Gulf Coast University, is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts this year against the Rays. They start rookie right-hander Jacob Faria (3-0, 2.23), who has exceeded all expectations. He has made five starts and they have all been quality. Faria has never faced Boston.

Deep Dive On 2017 Houston Texans

The Texans have finished with 9-7 records the past two seasons but that has been good enough to win the weak AFC South Division – it could be again in 2017. Houston had one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2016 despite having three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt for only three games. He’s healthy now. It’s all about quarterback play in Houston. Brock Osweiler was sold off to Cleveland this offseason after one terrible season as a free-agent bust. Tom Savage has the starting job heading to camp, but the Texans traded up in the first round of the 2017 draft to take Clemson QB Deshaun Watson for a reason. If Watson is ready to silence his doubters right away, the Texans have the team around him to do something special. He could be in a similar position as Dak Prescott was last year in Dallas. SBR’s top sportsbooks give the Texans a win total of 8.5.